Hezbollah Leader Naim Qassem Urges Lebanon to Cancel Israel Talks in Washington

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a defiant rejection of the rare direct talks scheduled between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, calling them futile.

“Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected an upcoming meeting between the Lebanese government and Israel in the United States, calling such efforts “futile” as Israeli forces intensify their attacks on Lebanon”

Al Jazeera

Qassem said the talks were a ploy to pressure Hezbollah into laying down its weapons.

Al Jazeera

The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are set to meet in Washington to discuss holding direct negotiations, the first such engagement since 1993.

Hezbollah also announced it would not abide by any agreements that may result from the talks.

The rejection came amid intensifying Israeli attacks that have killed at least 2,055 people in Lebanon since March 2.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed cautious optimism ahead of the talks.

A State Department official said the discussions are taking place as a direct result of Hezbollah's reckless actions.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat

The government has the least room to maneuver, balancing negotiations so that Hezbollah does not feel fundamentally threatened.

The talks are scheduled to focus on a possible ceasefire, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and a broader peace arrangement.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said we want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons.

Hezbollah remains Lebanon's most powerful armed group, with greater military strength than the Lebanese Army.

The group is also a political party and a social movement that runs services including schools and hospitals.

The government last year approved a plan to remove all weapons that are not property of the state.

Relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have grown increasingly tense.

Safa said Hezbollah is ready to negotiate with the Lebanese government about the fate of its weapons.

The Israel Defense Forces completed the siege of the town of Bint Jbeil and began a ground assault.

Hezbollah fighters entrenched in the town were ready to fight to the death.

AP News

Bint Jbeil is a faction stronghold and provincial capital.

Israeli officials expect full operational control of the town in a few days.

The capture would give Israel better control over the entire southeastern border strip of Lebanon.